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Short‐term prey field lability constrains individual specialisation in resource selection and foraging site fidelity in a marine predator
Author(s) -
Courbin Nicolas,
Besnard Aurélien,
Péron Clara,
Saraux Claire,
Fort Jérôme,
Perret Samuel,
Tornos Jérémy,
Grémillet David
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.12970
Subject(s) - foraging , predation , ecology , trophic level , biology , population , optimal foraging theory , predator , fidelity , resource (disambiguation) , computer network , demography , sociology , computer science , electrical engineering , engineering
Spatio‐temporally stable prey distributions coupled with individual foraging site fidelity are predicted to favour individual resource specialisation. Conversely, predators coping with dynamic prey distributions should diversify their individual diet and/or shift foraging areas to increase net intake. We studied individual specialisation in Scopoli's shearwaters ( Calonectris diomedea ) from the highly dynamic Western Mediterranean, using daily prey distributions together with resource selection, site fidelity and trophic‐level analyses. As hypothesised, we found dietary diversification, low foraging site fidelity and almost no individual specialisation in resource selection. Crucially, shearwaters switched daily foraging tactics, selecting areas with contrasting prey of varying trophic levels. Overall, information use and plastic resource selection of individuals with reduced short‐term foraging site fidelity allow predators to overcome prey field lability. Our study is an essential step towards a better understanding of individual responses to enhanced environmental stochasticity driven by global changes, and of pathways favouring population persistence.